Peter Williams

Peter Williams, who has died of cancer, aged 72, was one of the finest photographers working in that golden age of advertising and editorial photography from the 1960s into the 90s. In his later career he focused on food photography and his culinary still lives appeared in the Guardian, Daily Telegraph and Kew magazine.

During the last two decades he illustrated 30 books, including Caroline Conran's Delicious Home Cooking from Around the British Isles (1992), Jane Newdick's Country Flower Style (1993) and the award-winning Cooked to Perfection (1997) by Anne Willan.

Whether in his Chelsea studio - once Augustus John's - or on location, Peter displayed a tremendous attention to detail. Many fledgling art directors learned from him never to accept second best. His photographs demonstrated his love of, and affinity with, 17th-century Dutch still life painters such as Willem Claeszoon Heda and Willem Kalf.

Peter won many awards, including the 2000 Glenfiddich Food and Drink prize for his work in the Guardian Weekend magazine, and in that year also he had a solo exhibition at his favourite haunt, the Chelsea Arts Club.

Peter was born in Carshalton, Surrey, the son of a wartime Royal engineer. His mother was a keen amateur violinist. After Wallington county grammar school, he attended Regent Street Polytechnic and in 1955 passed his City and Guilds in portraiture and commercial, industrial and advertising photography. Soon after he joined the studio of the charismatic creative advertising director Arpad Elfer.

He had a passion for old cars and for a flutter on a horse race (or two). He was also an accomplished, and self-taught, metal sculptor. His humour, integrity and kindness was loved by those who worked closely with him.

He shared a great love of Spain with his wife Susana, with whom he bought a small farm near Mijas in Andalusia. During the 1960s Peter and his father and uncle renovated a cottage in the ruined fishing village of Hallsands, Devon, creating a magical place which, to this day, his family still enjoys. The place he cared for and loved so deeply is now his final resting place.